Engineered Hardwood Flooring - How to Select It For Your Needs

Engineered Hardwood Flooring

Engineered hardwood flooring is a product made of a core of hardwood, plywood, or high density fiber and a top layer of hardwood veneer that is glued on the top surface of the core. It is available in almost any hardwood species. The product has the natural characteristics of the selected wood species as opposed to a photographic layer. The "engineered" product has been designed to provide greater stability, particularly where moisture or heat pose problems for hardwood floors.

Wood floors come in two basic types:

o Solid wood flooring
o Engineered wood flooring

Solid Wood Fl is fabricated from 3/4" thick solid wood and tongue and groove sides to join the boards. Some manufacturers make a thinner version that is 5/16" thick. The main advantage of solid wood flooring is its ability to be re-sanded and refinished over many years. It is not uncommon for solid wood floors to last 50 years or more. Solid wood floors come unfinished or prefinished in almost any wood species.

The main issue to consider with solid wood floors is its susceptibility to expansion and contraction due to humidity changes in the home. To accommodate for movement, these floors are typically installed with a 5/8" to 3/4" gap around the perimeter of the floor along the wall. This gap is covered by shoe molding and baseboards.

The 3/4" thick floors should not be installed in a below grade condition, such as a basement. However, the thinner 5/16" wood floors may be used in that application. When installing a solid wood floor over new or existing concrete, be sure the manufacturer's recommendations on limits of moisture in the concrete are followed.

Solid wood flooring is available in three main types:

o Strip flooring is denoted by the thickness and width of the wood planks. Strip flooring has a set width, but the thickness can vary. Strip flooring ranges in thickness from 5/16" to ¾" wide. It is available only in widths of 1 1/2", 2", and 2 1/4".

o Plank flooring comes in two thicknesses, but unlike strip flooring, the widths can vary. It is available only in thicknesses of 1/2" or 3/4" and a range of widths from 3" to 8".

o Parquet flooring has a very different look from typical hardwoods. They are made up of geometrical patterns composed of individual wood patterns composed of individual wood slats held in place by mechanical fastening or an adhesive.

Laminate flooring is not real wood, at least not in the way that hardwood and engineered wood are. It is comprised of a thin top layer of resin-infused paper, all on top of a wood chip composite. Technically, it is wood. It is an amazing simulation of wood. The resin layer is essentially a photograph of wood. Laminate flooring is an alternative to wood flooring. It is scratch resistant and it works well in topically moist environments like bathrooms and kitchens, unlike hardwood flooring. Additionally, laminate flooring is very easy to install.

Engineered wood flooring solves a lot of the problems hardwood and laminate flooring have:

o Solid Hardwood does not tolerate moisture well.
o Solid Hardwood can have uneven quality
o Laminate Flooring does not tolerate moisture well
o Laminate Flooring is fake wood and can not be sanded.

Basics of Engineered Wood Floors

Engineered hardwood floors are constructed similar to that of basic plywood with the top surface being actual hardwood. Products come in two to ten ply construction depending on the manufacturer. Many manufacturers have increased the surface (also known as veneer or wear layer) layer that will result in some engineered floors lasting as long as the traditional ¾" solid flooring. One of the most important factors contributing to the longevity of any hardwood floor is the amount of refinishable material.

Solid 3/4" hardwoods have approximately 1/4 of an inch above the tongue and groove construction. Once it is sanded to that level, nails or staples begin to appear and should be replaced. The better and thicker engineered hardwood floors have 1/8" to 3/16" above the tongue and groove. Since the veneer is real wood, it can be sanded up to two to three times.

Engineered floors are the ideal solution for hardwood flooring on concrete. The dimensional stability of the way they are constructed. Each ply layer is pressure glued and set in the opposite direction. Engineered hardwood floors expand and contract with high humidity, as opposed to hardwood flooring. The more plies the greater stability.

Installation of most engineered hardwood floors are done by the glue down or floating floor method. It is very important to note that not all engineered products have the same type of installation specifications. Some floors may be floating, glue direct, or staple only. Maunufacturers specifications should be followed explicitly. The majority of prefinished engineered hardwoods have limits on lengths at 42 to 48 inches, opposed to most solid hardwoods at 72 to 84 inches. Typically, lower end flooring will have shorter pieces. Typically, longer lengths are preferred as they offer a more appealing look on completion.

What is a floating floor? It is a method of installing a floor rather than a specific type of flooring material. In this method, the individual planks or boards attach to each other - either by means of gluing or snapping together, but do not attach to the sub floor on which it is being installed. This is in contrast to a solid wood floor which requires nailing down to the sub floor. A jigsaw puzzle is one great comparison. With a jigsaw puzzle, pieces connect to each other, but not to the table. A floating floor is like a jigsaw puzzle. An advantage of the floating floor method of installation is it allows for the floor to move and expand in response to changes in the room's humidity.

Wood Flooring Hardness Rating

The hardness of wood flooring is measured by something called the Janka Test. A.444 inch steel ball is driven into the wood to half the ball's diameter. The test measures the force needed to embed a steel ballot half of its diameter in the piece of wood being tested, with rating measured in pounds of force per square inch. So with this rating, the higher the number the harder the wood.

Wood hardness is important since one of the key considerations in selecting the species of wood floor, you should be aware how much resistance the wood has to scratches and indentations. For example, if you have a dog with long nails then scratching the floor is a consideration and you should select a species with a higher rating such as hickory, maple, oak, or ash.

While it may seem logical to pick the hardest wood, certain factors should be considered:

o Soft wood can be hardened to some degree by the application of polyurethane finishes

o Hard wood is nearly always much more expensive than the softer and medium grade woods.

o Hard wood is more difficult to saw, drill, and nail than other woods, requiring more time and labor, therefore more money.

Hardwood Floor Appearances Can Differ

Hardwood veneers have the same surface appearances as solid hardwood flooring because they are both natural hardwoods. Different appearances result from the different ways the hardwood is sawn. The different sawing methods are:

o Flat Sawn (also referred to as plain sawn) - can be flat grain, which has a cathedral or gothic effect or vertical grain which has a radial or edge grain effect.

o Rotary Cut - method of cutting wood in which the hardwood layer is peeled off the log using large wood lathes. This peeling method shows dramatic, wilder graining.

o Off-Set Rotary Cut - method of cutting wood which gives a sliced appearance and grain pattern with the added cross grain stability of sliced, without the sliced cost. Hardwoods are more dimensionally stable across the grain, and off-set rotary cutting takes advantage of this property. The yield is lower than a regular rotary cut creating a slight price increase vs. standard rotary.

o Sliced Cut - method of cutting wood in which the hardwood layer is sawn like regular lumber. This shows finer graining.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alan_Trauger

The Differences Between Various Types of Hardwood Flooring

Traditionally, hard wood flooring has been viewed as the creme de la creme of flooring, because until the early 1980's if you had hardwood flooring, then to a certain extent you were considered wealthy.

Times have changed as has technology and this either takes prices down or up depending on the supply and demand of a product. In today's times, hard wood flooring can be found almost in every retail flooring store around. Hard wood flooring is generally sold in only a couple varieties, which include unfinished hard wood, pre-finished hard wood, and engineered hard wood.

Unfinished is the traditional product, which was bought in a couple of different woods, widths, and lengths. The tongue and the groove design was laid and then sanded to get a smooth and even texture on the surface of the wood. Once the wood was sanded, it was then stained and lacquered, which traditionally consumed a lot of time and labor. Time equals money and in the early 1980's this was a very expensive process no doubt.

Pre-finished flooring has been on the market for many years now and is the most commonly used hard wood flooring used in homes. This flooring is unique, because right after the manufacturer cuts the tongue and groove, he sends the wood through the finishing sander and then on to the spray booth where all the pieces are finished.

The time consuming labor processes involved in the sanding and staining or lacquering unfinished hard wood flooring have been replaced by machines, which can produce at a higher level of efficiency than the human hand. The installation of the pre finished hard wood flooring is a step by step process. This type of flooring makes prices competitive with other flooring alternatives.

Engineered hard wood is the newest product on the market and is quickly becoming the most popular. This product is unique since it is made from a new form of particle board with a veneer layer of your choice of hard wood on the top. This is then pre finished and sold in your stores.

The unique aspect of this engineered hard wood is that it can be installed in basements and cooler rooms that have a more type of moist environment where the pre finished and unfinished hard wood cannot be installed. Of course, the prices are slightly higher on the engineered hard wood, but the price may come down as supply and demand increase.

In conclusion, choosing which of the three different types of hard wood to put on your floor greatly depends on the look you are going for. Each product will give you a slightly different look in your home. If your needs are driven by economy, then there are a lot of pre finished hard wood flooring options available for you now on the market. If you are driven by the traditional look, then unfinished hard wood flooring is a good option, but if you are driven by technology and flexibility, then engineered hard wood is your best choice.

About the Author

Victor Epand is an expert consultant for home goods, home supplies, home automation and security. Follow these links to find the best hardwood floors, home supplies, and home automation and security.

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Get the Look of Hardwood Flooring for Less With Laminate Flooring

If you're looking to update the appearance of your home, you may be thinking about giving its flooring a face-lift. Replacing worn-out carpeting with sleek, stylish hardwood flooring can make a dramatic difference in the appearance of just about any room in the home. However, hardwood floors have many drawbacks; one of the biggest ones involves price. Don't worry, though - you can enjoy the style and elegance of hardwood flooring for a lot less by opting for laminate flooring. Laminate styles have come a really long way. Today, they are barely discernible from honest-to-goodness wood. Learn more about the top perks of laminate below.

It Looks Like the Real Thing

Laminate flooring has made a lot of progress over the last ten to fifteen years. These days, it is available in many great wood styles that look a lot like the real thing. Whether you're interested in the stately style of oak or the country charm of pine, you can get those looks - and more - without any of the drawbacks. For example, many species of wood are too soft to be practical for everyday use; laminate floors replicate the look of many species of wood while providing unbeatable strength and durability. There's no reason to cross any particular type of wood off of your list, when you can always opt for laminate.

Unbeatable Wear Resistance and Durability

While some worn-down wood floors have a bit of rustic charm, it often doesn't turn out that way. Scuff marks, scrapes and other signs of wear and tear can seriously detract from the style of a wood floor. While laminate floors aren't impervious to such issues, they can be less likely to incur damage. As a result, you can invest in laminate and rest assured that if it is properly maintained it will look as great in five to ten years as it does on the day when it is installed.

Use it in Virtually Any Room in the House

As you probably already know, wood is not an ideal option for moisture-prone areas of the home. Therefore, you can't really have wood flooring installed in the bathroom or kitchen - at least, not without doing a lot of finishing. Even then, warping and other issues may arise. Laminate flooring minimizes those concerns. While it looks almost exactly like the real thing, it isn't as prone to water damage. You can enhance the look of your bathroom, kitchen or basement with the appearance of wood floors - just choose laminate.

Enjoy Today's Hottest Design Trends

These days, many people pay big bucks to invest in wood floor that is strategically distressed or scraped. The rustic and shabby-chic look of these floors can really bolster a home's appearance. You don't have to miss out on such hot trends when you opt for laminate floors. It is perfectly possible to buy laminate floors that are scraped, distressed or otherwise enhanced. Best of all, these features are added to the laminate before the wood detailing; the end result, therefore, is virtually identical to what you would get when splurging on real wood.

Buy Planks of Various Lengths and Widths

Laminate flooring is anything but cookie-cutter or dull. If you think that a laminate floor is going to look utilitarian or like it was put together in a factory, think again. Today's wood-style laminate floors can be laid down in planks that mirror the widths and lengths of today's best wood floors. Whether you are looking for wide planks or thin ones, you can get the look that you need with laminate. Similarly, it's possible to buy laminate wood planks in exceptionally long lengths that mesh well with today's hottest contemporary design trends.

Skip the Wood and Save a Bundle

At the end of the day, laminate flooring is closely mirrors that of real wood, but it eliminates many of the issues of real wood. When you opt for laminate, you don't restrict yourself in terms of the rooms in which you can use it. More importantly, you are a lot less likely to exceed your budget. Today's laminate floors are durable, stylish, affordable and versatile. Unless you are absolutely determined to have real wood in your home, there's no good reason not to use laminate.

Tag : hardwood,hardwood flooring,laminate flooring,flooring

Prefinished Hardwood Flooring – Many Different Color and Finish Selections

Prefinished hardwood flooring has undergone many changes since hardwood flooring became the fashionable alternative for floors of a home. At one time, when you purchased hardwood, you bought the wood unfinished. This meant that when you installed it, you then had to stain the flooring and give it a protective coat and a shine. Today, you can still buy unfinished hardwood, but with the many types of prefinished wood, you can save yourself a lot of work by buying prefinished hardwood flooring.

Each prefinished hardwood flooring manufacturer has various color selections available along with different sizes of boards and finishes. The thickness of boards for prefinished wood floors can range from ¼ inch thick to ¾ inch thick. The top layer of the prefinished hardwood is the most important because it is the part that has to endure the wear and tear. The thicker the layer is, the more times you can refinish the wood floors in the future. The various widths you can choose from in prefinished wood flooring are a matter of personal taste. When you visit a flooring store, you can experiment by laying the boards of different widths of hardwood side by side to see what effect it would create.

The side edges of the prefinished hardwood flooring boards are also an important factor to consider. You can choose micro bevel, also called eased edge, bevelled and square edged hardwood boards. Each one of these achieves a different effect in the prefinished wood flooring that you have. The types of finished for prefinished wood floors also vary according to manufacturer, but these are applied in a factory under ideal settings. Usually hardwood floors have seven coats of finish on them when you buy the packages of prefinished hardwood.

The newest finish on the market for prefinished hardwood flooring contains aluminum oxide, but there are also acrylic, urethane or UV cured among the finishes. There are also several levels of sheen – gloss, semi-gloss and mat. The number of coats on the prefinished wood floors will determine the level of shine that you have. Even though unfinished hardwood flooring is still popular, prefinished wood flooring makes up more than half of the sales for wood floors. This is because it allows people to remodel their homes with less time. All you have to do is install the flooring without having to worry about stains, coatings, fumes or drying time.

The ease of installation with prefinished hardwood floors makes them very popular with building contractors. Engineered wood flooring is also an increasingly popular item when people want the look of hardwood floors without the expensive price tag. These to come in different colors, but you will not get the same variety in the types of hardwood that you can have for your floors. When you choose prefinished hardwood floors, you can choose from many types of wood, each with its own advantages and unique qualities.

To find out more about Wood Flooring visit Peter's Website Wood Flooring Explained and find out about Prefinished Hardwood Flooring and more, including Exotic Hardwood Floors, Wood Laminate Flooring, Refinishing Hardwood Floors and Bruce Hardwood Flooring.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Leigh

5 Types Of Hardwood Floors Popular Today

There are types of hardwood floors that look good in virtually every type of room. Before choosing a type of hardwood floor to install in a room, you need to learn about the advantages and disadvantages of the various types. There are currently five popular hardwood flooring types. When you know the hardwood flooring types that are popular today, you will be able to make a choice you will be happy with for years to come.

- Types of Hardwood floors: Prefinished

Prefinished hardwood floors have quickly become the most popular type of hardwood flooring. They are easy to buy and completely ready for installation. Purchasing is just a matter of finding a wood grain and finish that matches your home. In most cases, for installation, all you have to do is lay the floor panels down and make a few cuts to fit them as you reach the wall with each row of paneling. This is by far the easiest among the types of hardwood floors to install.

- Types of Hardwood Floors: Unfinished

When you put your floor together with unfinished hardwood, it is left to you to manually handle the finishing process. This means you will need to sand, buffer, stain, and coat the hardwood floor after you install it. This is a big time and labor disadvantage from the prefinished floor.

But there are reasons why you may prefer an unfinished hardwood floor installation. One of the best reasons for installing this type of floor is if you are planning on selling the building soon. You can then have the new tenants choose the color that matches their needs or desires before finishing the wood. If you install prefinished wood in such a scenario, you would face a choice of losing a customer or reinstalling the wood floor.

- Types of Hardwood Floors: Solid Wood

This was a popular hardwood floor type until recently. It is very hard to install and to remove. You can find the lumber for solid wood floors in the form of either parquet, plank, or strip. Strip is the easiest to install by far, but those looking for ease would do better with one of the other types of hardwood floors.

- Types of Hardwood Floors: Engineered Wood

Engineered wood is made out of multiple layers of veneer. These layers of wood are glued together with high quality glue. This design makes them very sturdy, as they benefit from the grains and features of each layer of veneer. Also, this allows you to use one wood at the surface to match your house, and higher quality woods make up the lower veneer layers.

For example, if you want a house full of birch furniture, you can have the surface layer of the floor made of birch, with sturdy oak layers supporting the floor. This combination would give you the durability of oak with the beauty of birch.

Engineered wood flooring can also handle a wider variety of climates. They are much more immune than the previously mentioned hardwood floor types to humidity, spills, and temperature extremes. This is why engineered wood floors are often recommended for basements where water is often prevalent.

- Types of Hardwood Floors: Acrylic Impregnated Wood

Acrylic impregnated wood floors are similar to prefinished floors, except that they are built with a special new process. The coloring and acrylic are put into the wood planks' pores under high pressure. The floor planks that result are very durable. These floors do not get as easily scratched as the other hardwood floor. They do really well in busy places and with frequent furniture moves. They are also much more resistant to climate extremes than the other types of hardwood floors.

Tag : hardwood,hardwood floors,cheap hardwood flooring

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Hardwood Flooring Basics To Beautify Your Home

Hardwood Flooring Basics to Beautify Your Home Hardwood flooring can beautify a home like almost nothing else. By following a few simple rules you can install and maintain hardwood flooring that will look magnificent for decades to come.

With all of the many different types, styles and colors of flooring available today it can be a monumental task in choosing the right flooring for your home. Hardwood floors, laminate, vinyl, linoleum, bamboo, antique, prefinished, which one is right for you? Oak, maple, cherry and birch are popular types of hardwood flooring, but there are many others.

Cheap flooring or the wrong style or design of hard wood floor can clash with other home interior design features. But a well-chosen hardwood floor can accentuate and beautify almost any style or design of a home.

Carpeting has a few advantages over wood floors, the main one being softness when walked upon. But hardwood flooring can be accented with durable and beautiful rugs that have that same cushy feeling. So if it’s a soft comfy feel you’re after don’t think that hardwood flooring is not an option. It’s possible to combine the functionality of a carpet with the beauty, durability and shine of a hardwood floor.

Hard wood floors come in all different sizes and colors. And there are also many different types of wood grains that you have available to you. When deciding on the type of hardwood floor to install in your home you must first choose the color and type of wood. This is usually the most important consideration.

The color must be complimentary to the furniture, wall hangings, plants and other items that you intend to furnish your home with. But choosing a color of wood is not necessarily a straight forward and easy task. Different types of wood stain differently. Some wood flooring will stain darker than others, some lighter than others. So when choosing color you must consider the stain in combination with the type of wood floor you want. Do your homework and you will lessen the chance of installing a floor that has a different color and look than you expected.

Another major factor concerns functionality. A pine floor may look great, but pine is a soft wood that will dent very easily. This would certainly be a poor choice in a high-traffic area. When considering woods for flooring you want to install a floor that is long-lasting. Your flooring should last a lifetime and that means choosing a floor that will be durable, easy to keep clean and will continue to look new without a lot of labor on your part. If you are uncertain go with flooring that will be harder than you think is necessary. Hardness rankings according to the Janka scale can help you decide on which type of wood you need for the amount of traffic you expect to have.

The most popular styles of hardwood flooring are parquet, strip and plank. Parquet flooring is a series of wood flooring pieces that create a geometric design. Strip flooring is linear and is usually between 1 ½ inches to 3 ¼ inches in width. Strip flooring often gives the room the appearance of being larger than it actually is. Plank hardwood flooring is usually wider and is typically 3 to 6 inches in width. Wider planks may be used, but often have issues with moisture.

You must choose the style and size that you think looks most attractive. Take your time and view all styles, designs, sizes and colors of wood floors before making your selection. Once it’s installed it is not a cheap job to tear out and replace. It’s also a good idea to get different samples and lay them out in your home. Without actually seeing the floor next to your own furnishings and wall colors it’s near impossible to make a smart choice.

If you are interested in installing your own hardwood floor be sure you have enough knowledge and experience before attempting to do so. You must know what type of subflooring to install, whether it’s wood or concrete. You should learn about humidity and temperature and what affect they have on floors. To prevent warping it is important to keep your floors well-ventilated with regulated temperatures throughout the year. When the weather gets too cold it can cause the floor boards to separate. Before installing it yourself talk to some professionals in your area and find out what precautions you need to take that will help ensure a lifetime of satisfaction with your new wood flooring.

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3 Kinds Of Wood Used In Real Wood Furniture

Real wood furniture is the most popular furniture in
existence. It's been around for hundreds of years and
probably existed when the cave people got tired of squatting
on the dirt floor of their caves and looked around for a
better way.

The woods that are fashioned into furniture fall into three
categories:

1. Hardwoods

2. Softwoods

3. Composites

Even the term 'hardwood' or 'softwood' is deceptive.
Hardwoods aren't necessarily harder, denser material. For
example, balsa wood is one of the lightest, least dense
woods there is, and it's considered a hardwood. Technically,
lumber is classified based on how the tree reproduces. As a
general rule, though, softwood trees are evergreen year
round while the hardwoods create the gorgeous autumn foliage
that we all love so much.

Hardwoods are considered the highest quality and are the
most expensive. Their natural colors vary from the darkest
woods to the lightest ones and and they can be stained or
painted for even more variety. Hardwood furniture is least
likely to warp or bend and is prized in all high quality
homes. The five woods most commonly used in furniture
production are cherry, walnut, oak, maple and mahogany.

Softwoods are less expensive than hardwoods, but they
require extra care. Because they are less durable, it's much
easier to scratch or dent softwood furniture. In addition,
they often don't have the beautiful grains of a hardwood,
and therefore don't stain as beautifully.

Pine is an example of a softwood that is commonly used for
furniture. These woods are often used in construction as
well so the choicest pieces are reserved for furniture. In
construction, knots and splits are common. Lots of
construction lumber will not accept paint and this kind of
wood is used for shelves or packing crates.

The softwood used in furniture is designated as "Appearance"
lumber and includes most softwood lumber that has been
custom milled to a pattern or otherwise surfaced on all four
sides.

Composites are the cheapest form of wood and are literally
manufactured, rather than grown.

1. Plywood: multiple layers of thin wooden sheets are glued
together and pressed. Plywood is strong and resists
swelling, shrinking and warping. There is some furniture
made directly from plywood, but generally it is only used as
a support when incorporated into furniture.

2. Particle board: sawdust and small wood chips are mixed
with glue or resin which is then shaped and pressure
treated. When used for inexpensive furniture, particle board
is usually covered with laminate or veneer. This is
necessary because particle board splits easily and the
laminate prevents splitting. However, the downside is that
the laminate may separate from the wood because the particle
board responds to temperature and pressure changes by
swelling and shrinking.

3. Hardboard: is made like particle board but it's placed
under higher pressure so it's stronger.

4. MDF or Medium Density Fiberboard: wood particles are
bonded with resin and compressed. It is harder than particle
board or hardboard, and can be cut like plywood although it
isn't as strong as plywood. Some MDF is covered with
melamine which is a durable plastic in a variety of colors.
The exposed edges of MDF are rough and need covering with
molding or some other decorative material.

Technically, furniture made from all of these wood products
is "real" wood furniture, even the composites. Prices and
quality range from the hardwoods down to the composites.
The higher you go up the spectrum, the more you can expect
to pay for your wood furniture. The good part, of course,
is that with proper care hardwood furniture will last for
decades or even generations. If you can afford it, always
choose hardwood furniture.

Read dozens of articles & constant new information on home decorating, furniture, unique home decor, home interiors & gifts, including a home blog, books on decorating and weekly specials. http://online-home-shop.com

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Reclaimed Hardwood Flooring - What is It, Why Use it and Where to Buy It?

If you are looking into buying wood flooring, you probably have come across the term "reclaimed wood" and may be wondering what exactly does this mean. This simply means that the wood material has been used previously and was discarded or not needed anymore. In the past, usually when a wooden structure wasn't needed anymore it was just disposed of to a landfill dump or perhaps burned. This is an unfortunate way to deal with wooden materials that come from structures that are being remodeled or demolished. These older woods many times can be reused by milling, refinishing or sanding.

As people have become more aware of environmental concerns such as deforestation, the practice of reclaiming wood has become more popular. Reclaiming hardwood flooring materials has many advantages such as : reusing old growth woods that are valuable and rare, reducing deforestation, reduce harm to environments from logging, reducing solid waste and offering economical alternatives to new wood materials. Perhaps the best reason to reuse wood is that it just doesn't make sense to throw away beautiful wood material that took so long to grow. Recycling wood just makes sense and people love it's appearance.

Reclaimed flooring can come from different types of wood products. It doesn't just have to come from old wood flooring, although that is one of the most popular sources. It can also come from old barns, wine barrels, water towers, bridges, homes, wharfs, docks, schools etc... On the outside the wood of these materials may not look like something you would want to use on your floors, but that is deceptive. For example if you take a thick piece of a large oak beam that is cracked and splintered on the out side, you will find by milling it into smaller pieces the inside looks fresh and beautiful without the wear and tear of the sun, wind and water.

Finding reclaimed hardwood flooring material may not be as simple as going to your local large building supply franchise. Usually these types of businesses won't carry these reclaimed products. The best way to find a company that specializes in flooring and specifically has experience in these materials. With a little bit of searching online you can find someone in your area who can help you.

To find out more info go to reclaimed hardwood flooring experts Tamalpais hardwood floors.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Phelan

An Introduction to Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood flooring is made from all natural timber and is offered in two different states: unfinished and pre-finished. Unfinished is when the wood arrives in it's natural state and it is sanded and finished on site when you receive it. However, these days it is much more common for this wood to simply be finished in the factory so it will be shipped to you ready to install. This wood will be either solid or engineered by one of three processes: rotary peel, sliced peel, and dry solid sawed. This article will provide a brief explanation of each of these topics.

When purchasing hardwood flooring, one of your first decisions will be to choose between solid and engineered wood. Solid woods often come in planks that are 3/4 of an inch thick. This type may be installed by nailing it down onto the wood sub floors. One thing to keep in mind however is that it is very susceptible to the effects of moisture and extreme temperatures, which often causes it to expand or contract. Engineered hardwood flooring uses layers of wood veneer instead of the single plank that is used in solid. This veneer will range in thickness. Ultimately this makes it less susceptible to temperature and moisture.

It is quite interesting how engineered hardwood flooring is created which is by three different methods, rotary peel, sliced peel, and dry solid sawed. The rotary peel method is accomplished by boiling the wood in water. Afterward the wood is peeled away with a blade creating a veneer which is then pressed flat. These rotary peeled woods seem to have plywood like appearance when it comes to the grain. One downside to this type is that it is more prone to warp back into its original shape.

The next method by which engineered hardwood flooring is created is the sliced peel method. This process is quite similar to that used in the rotary peel method, but the manner of slicing the wood is different. Here it is sliced from the end of the log instead of the rotary fashion. After this it pretty much follows the same process as in rotary peel. There are a few differences in the finished product however. For one thing, it does not have a plywood appearance and it is not as prone to warp.

Finally, there is the dry solid sawed method of preparing hardwood flooring. Here instead of boiling the logs they are instead kept in an area of low humidity so that the moisture is dried out from the wood cells. This style has the same appearance of solid wood flooring and doesn't feature any problems whatsoever when it comes to warping.

When it comes to choosing the type of hardwood flooring to install in your home, the decision is ultimately up to you. Each of the different types listed above has its own pros and cons, so weigh them carefully before buying.

Tag : hardwood,hardwood flooring,cheap hardwood flooring

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Exotic Hardwood Floors

With an impressive durability and unique appearances, exotic hardwoods are an excellent choice for the homeowner who wants the durability of hardwood but wants something a little different at the same time. exotic hardwoods offer a variety of colorations and patterns that are not commonly seen in domestic hardwood flooring. Learn more about what makes a wood floor exotic, the durability they offer, and how to care for your exotic wood flooring.

What Are exotic hardwoods?

An exotic hardwood is defined as any type of wood found outside of the United States that is imported into the country. Brazil, Australia, Africa and countries in the Far East offer a large variety of woods not native to the U.S. There are over 100 species of trees that are considered exotic to North America and offer a distinctive and visually striking appearance that differs from standard American hardwood floors.

Exotic hardwood floors, like standard hardwood floors, are manufactured in both solid hardwood and engineered assortments. Solid hardwood is a single slat of wood; engineered wood is a sandwich of laminated wood with real hardwood veneer on the top layer.

Hardness Rating

All wood is subject to the Janka Hardness Rating scale to detect its strength. This hardness test measures the force required to embed a.444 inch steel ball to half its diameter into the wood. The Janka Rating is the industry standard for assessing the ability of various wood species to endure pressure and determine the energy needed to nail and/or saw the wood.

Tests performed by the U.S. Forestry Lab indicate that most exotic woods are frequently more durable than other types of hardwoods. Brazilian Teak, for example, has a rating of 3,540, which makes it perfect to handle the abuse of large families with indoor pets. African Mahogany has a rating of 830, and is more likely to be damaged by heavy traffic and scuffed by your pet's nails.

Care and Maintenance

Exotic hardwood floors, like domestic hardwood floors, require little maintenance to uphold their luster. Wipe spills immediately and limit any exposure to water. Regularly dust and sweep to reduce the risk of dirt buildup. Only use mild solvents specifically designed for hardwood floors, making sure to avoid harsh abrasives and scouring pads. A natural cleaner of equal parts white vinegar and water usually works best, but you must be sure to dry the floor completely when finished cleaning..

Always use caution when moving large pieces of furniture or heavy equipment across the floor. Although exotic hardwoods are durable and tough, they still have limits and will scratch and dent when too much weight is scraped the wrong way across the floor. Furniture coasters and lifting straps can help protect the life of your floor.

Many varieties of exotic wood floors are photosensitive, so avoid leaving them unprotected in direct sunlight as they may change color over time. Close curtains and blinds when possible and use rugs in areas that could be affected.

Distinct Features of Softwood From Hardwood Flooring

Wood flooring and its service in living spaces

Flooring is also called single element change in home which will face-lift space and make it more glorified. All flooring adds lot of warmth and boosts value to space as you need some place to fall into and relax. Wood due to various mechanical properties too can be used in furniture, tools, building structures and decorative elements.

Aspects of softwood flooring

In earlier sections we saw primarily hardwood flooring and its uses. Wood flooring will transform your home into entity as eternal gets converted to natural earthy elements. As per saying today we will discuss softwood flooring and its features. Wood obtained from leaves shed by trees like pine, fir, spruces, cedars, hemlock, larch, Douglas-fir etc. and redwood is called as softwood.

Properties of softwood:

1) Softwood flooring is popular and reasonable as they are evergreen and has faster growth rate.
2) Wood for softwood flooring is obtained from coniferous forests. Such flooring will be less dense with calorific value and durability.
3) Softwoods trees are found in northern hemisphere.
4) As these trees don't shed leaves they are immensely used in wood works for making home and offices cabins and various in furniture.
5) They are less expensive to hardwood because of lower density which makes them softer than hardwood.

All softwood is organic or botanical species of trees from which wood is harvested with leaves shaped in needle form or scale like. Softwoods are very durable as they are timeless and fibers of softwood are longer than hardwood. Well do you know that many softwoods are strong than hardwood like yew, it is rare and is native to U.K.

Pine: Pine is softwood with closed, even and uniform grain texture. It comes in light color like pale and yellow hue with very few markings, none of which is strong. Though pine is light but is very strong. It is very durable wood which hold its place exceptionally well resulting in negligible or no warping, swelling or shrinking. Pine wood has very smooth surface with not even single grain raised. Flooring of pine softwood can be considered because it stays well where it is and prevents warping and swelling of wooden joints in cabinetry or internal fixtures in wooden carpets. Yellowish stain on this wood can be obtained by washing it with ammonia before having antique and timeless appearance for flooring.

It's very important to have in depth knowledge of material used for home decor, so in next section we will also discuss all above mentioned softwoods for discount flooring.

Today numerous colors available in laminate wood flooring which have made them prime product of home decor.

Tag : hardwood,hardwood flooring,softwood,cheap hardwood flooring,bruce hardwood

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Hardwood Floor Installations That Delight Buyers and Owner

Your choice of hardwood flooring is a decision that can dramatically impact the very essence of your home's character.

Because all people are unique, the best flooring suppliers do offer a diverse selection of hard wood flooring styles produced in a wide range of wood species and colors. Award Hardwood Floors are one make of these floors which say that they are sure to satisfy even the most discriminate consumer.

Commitment to high quality products and state of the art manufacturing advances is only a feature of the very best suppliers and can easily be seen from product to product, board to board in the finished result.

Since 1998, thousands of home owners and various home decorating publications have looked to FloorFacts for helpful flooring information for all types of floors, including: hardwood flooring, laminate flooring, carpet, cork, bamboo floors and ceramic tile. Their consumer reviews cover all types of floors for both for new home construction as well as remodeling projects.

Hardwood flooring suppliers offer a wider selection of sizes, colors and species and finishes than ever before. To learn more you may want to see the HF Guide, Types of Hardwood Flooring, what you should know about Flooring Prices, also a new article: Longevity Of H'wood Floorings.

While wood flooring has been much in vogue in recent years, it has received little if any exceptional treatment from do-it-yourself writers. This is all changing now that Bollinger, who we understand is an experienced flooring contractor, states that he has produced what has to be the definitive guide to installing and finishing wood floors. He writes about the three types of flooring: strip, plank, and parquet covering such topics as estimating costs; selecting wood types and grades; preparing the underlay; planning the layout; sanding; and applying various finishes.

Bollinger says he brings in many tricks of the trade, such refinements as wood and metal inlays, and ideas for dealing with the irregularities that invariably crop up in the repair or layout of floors as part of renovation projects. Nicely illustrated with photos and drawings. For most public libraries with active how-to collections. A companion video is also available; contact the publisher.

Using crisp photos and drawings, Bollinger says he gives you step by step instructions through the process. You will learn how to estimate materials, select the right kind of wood, prepare the subfloor and achieve a blemish-free finish for an old or new floor. This supplier says he also provides numerous tips and tricks, and sources of supply. The book is indexed for easy reference.

Nothing gives a home an air of timelessness and quiet elegance like a quality hardwood floor. At one supplier they carry a wide range of prefinished engineered, solid and floating floor systems designed to suit almost every need. They say that they have carefully selected their lines based on their reputation, quality and value for money, and to continually be on the look out for fresh, exciting flooring solutions to bring to you.

We recommend you use a full service hardwood flooring company providing expert sales and installation for your home. Plenty of duppliers offer knowledgeable service from initial design consultation to final installation and maintenance programs.

When you enter a room, your first impression of it is made from the floor upwards. It is essential to get this right, and by fitting hardwood flooring, you have usually at a stroke, solved the most difficult and important part of making an impact. Wood flooring gives you the ultimate in timeless elegance, flexibility and durability. Its hard wearing qualities and range of styles make it perfect for any room in the house.

Most suppliers provide hardwood flooring in Ash, Beech, Cherry, Hevea, Jatoba, Kempas, Maple, Merbau, Oak, Red Oak and Walnut, allowing you to create the ambience and mood to suit the design qualities of your home.

Regular care of your wood floor is simple and practical, and involves merely vacuuming and wiping your hardwood floor with a damp cloth. It helps to attach felt pads to the bottom of furniture, and bear in mind that any spilt liquid should immediately be dried of from hardwood floors.

Add the warmth and beauty of ready-to-install hardwood to almost any room in the house. Engineered Hardwood floors can be installed below grade in basements and on concrete. Hand-sculpted and exotics available.

Enjoy the luxury of solid hardwood with ready-to-install selections of beautiful wood flooring in a wide variety of domestic and exotic species. A hand-sculpted type may also available. Select from a broad palette of species and grades. Choose from traditional domestic species or exotic foreign hardwoods. Finish it with your choice of stain and sealants.

Inviting, familiar, and stable. Your home will be your refuge, your castle! By all means, make it beautiful, starting with the floors.

Our web site provides Hardwood Floor data provides a Newsletter great. Why not sign up now?

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Hardwood Has Homeowners Floored

Making the switch from vinyl, carpet and laminate to hardwood is not only a relatively easy task it’s a wise investment as well. Hardwood owes much of its popularity to its capacity to increase the value of homes. Results from a survey conducted by the National Wood Flooring Association indicate that 90% of realtors find that homes with wood flooring sell faster and for higher prices than houses without wood floors. Anita Howard, the organization’s Communications Director, says that 32% of realtors agree that it increased home prices by 2-5%, while 10% say that wood floors boost the value of homes by about 6-10% and about 2% of realtors say that it helps properties top the price of others in the area by more than 10%.

California real estate appraiser Charles Loo agrees that solid hardwood flooring, which has a higher perceived value, can increase the value of homes more than other flooring types could. Also an expert in construction, Loo talks from experience: “For the sale price on the homes I remodel and sell, I typically add a substantial amount to the asking price of the house...and I always get it...but then again, I live in one of the hottest real estate markets in the country. In Orange County where I live, I would say a quality hardwood floor can add about 50k to the sale price if, say, a good portion of the upstairs has been done with a quality hardwood floor.”

The enduring quality of wood is also among its many advantages over other flooring types. While carpet’s lifespan is pegged at about 10 years, wood floors can easily outlast the life of your home’s mortgage.

Looking at it from an environmental angle, wood is a sustainable flooring option. According to Howard, one of the hottest trends right now in home improvement is reclaiming wood. “You can take old wood (from old barns, warehouses, etc.) and make it new again”

In addition, Howard also points out that wood “promotes a healthier environment since it does not harbor allergens and microorganisms, which is a tremendous benefit to those who suffer from allergies and other air-borne illnesses.”

Another major benefit of installing hardwood floors is its aesthetic appeal. Aside from tying a room together, the wide range of species, colors and patterns available also offer endless design possibilities.

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Older Hardwood Floors Add Character To A Home

The installation of your new hardwood floor is probably the most rewarding remodeling you can do. With any type of flooring the first step is to create your reference line, if this line is off the entire floor will be off. Wood floors will contract and expand so when laying it down it is a good idea not to glue the floor down. There will be occasions when your hardwood floor will need fixing. Before securing hardwood floors, read the installation instructions provided by manufacturer for the right tools and methods. When installing hardwood try to steer clear of glue down floors, one of the main reasons is that wood contracts and expands.

Older floors have been worn down by foot traffic and they have not been kept up with the correct floor products, so more work might be needed to get them in shape. When cleaning hardwood floors only use the proper products that are used for wood finishes, using household cleaners can strip the finish. Wood is actually very good for allergy suffers, it does not harbor particles and it dust does not get into the nook and crannies.

You can use Hardwood floor throughout the house to get magnificent looks. There are so many designs and textures and these will add to your house. Many people think if they get hardwood floors that they will not dent, wood dents, when you drop something heavy or put something heavy on the floor it will dent wood. Wood is a living thing, so when it is processed and made into something else there is still a cell structure and the wood will dent.

Floor finish come in many different types, it can be gloss, flat, or satin and may be easily accented with decorative chips. Oak woods contain a lot of growth ring patterns and knots, and are best suited to traditional and rustic decors. When finishing a floor many people opt for the high gloss finish because it adds a touch of elegance. Never use water on a wood floor, this could damage it, the water penetrates the wood and makes it warp and rot. If you are looking to get an antique looking floor that try an old timber finish look. However, while it is costly to refinish a hardwood floor, it is well worth the investment. A great test to see if your floors are protected is to use the water test, drop a couple of drops of water on the floor and if it beads up the finish is good and you have a seal.

If you have a damaged floor you can temporarily fix it with wax. Wax will not stay for ever so you will need to fix the floor before it worsens. People use to keep their floors in good shape by waxing them. Today many people still use wax on their floors, it is very easy to apply, it dries fast and if you do it twice a year it keeps the floors looking great.

When a more in-depth cleaning is required, use a cleaning method appropriate to the finish on your floor. Before starting take a look at your floor and see if it needs that type of cleaning. To take care of your hardwood floors all you need to do is clean them everyday and this will keep them looking like new.

About the Author

David Marc Fishman is the owner of crafts. Tipsquad is a new advice website. It gives tips by showing by video. Another video site is the new www.priceriot.com

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Bruce Hardwood Flooring – Buy From The Largest Hardwood Company In The World

Installing Bruce hardwood flooring on the floors of your home is one of the best investments that you can ever make. It will add to the ambiance of any room and increase the value of your home if you ever want to sell. Each grade of wood used in Bruce hardwood carries a warranty all its own. Choose from three grades of hardwood – Good, Better and Best – to have hardwood floors with knots and character. The Best grade in Bruce hardwood flooring is the most expensive, but it also has the best quality wood and the best warranty.

Even with Bruce hardwood flooring, you will see variations in the wood in each plank. This is what will give your hardwood floors the unique appearance that you want to achieve. This variation exists in all qualities of Bruce hardwood floors because no two boards are the same. You do have to be careful even with hardwood even though it is solid. If you place furniture with sharp edges on the flooring it will dent the hardwood. Bruce wood flooring also goes through a natural aging process so if you have an area covered with a rug, when you move it the floor underneath will be lighter in color. It is recommended that you do move rugs from time to time to prevent this discoloration from occurring.

Sometimes, people who have installed Bruce wood flooring in their homes hear popping sounds when they walk across the floors. This is not defect in the Bruce hardwood flooring and is perfectly natural, so there is no cause for alarm. All hardwood goes through a process called patina and it may be caused by an uneven subfloor under the Bruce hardwood floors. If you glue the hardwood planks in place, you do have to make sure that you use the trowels properly when applying the adhesive so that you have a perfectly uniform surface for the hardwood floors.

Although it is not recommended, you can have Bruce hardwood flooring in the bathroom of your home. This is because hardwood is not conducive to areas of the home where there is excessive moisture. The choice to use unfinished or prefinished Bruce wood flooring is a matter of personal taste. It depends on how much work you want to do to finish the floor yourself or how much time you want to spend on maintenance of the Bruce hardwood floors. There are advantages and disadvantages to both, so you can ask the Bruce experts for advice when you are selecting your hardwood flooring. Prefinished hardwood does have more advantages, such as longer finish warranties, uniform stain application in a factory setting and it is easier to keep clean.

If you want to install Bruce hardwood flooring in areas where there will be lots of traffic, the Dura Lustre Plus finish will allow you to do this without any worries. Bruce offers commercial finishes for its hardwood floors, but it doesn’t recommend using mats in doorways or in front of the kitchen sink. Bruce does not recommend that you wax Bruce wood floorings. To keep the natural shine of Bruce hardwood flooring all you have to do is wash it up with a water based cleaner for hardwood floors and give it an occasional buffing.

To find out more about Wood Flooring visit Peter's Website Wood Flooring Explained and find out about Bruce Hardwood Flooring and more, including Exotic Hardwood Floors, Wood Laminate Flooring, and Refinishing Hardwood Floors

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Crump

Which Type of Hardwood Flooring Is Best For Your Home?

Hardwood flooring always improves the appearance of a room. Hardwood, however, comes in multiple types, some of which may be better for your home than others. While woods come in different species, as well as domestic and exotic varieties, the type of wood installed into your home or building can be solid, engineered, or laminate. Out of these three, two are made fully from natural wood, while laminate has the appearance of wood, although no natural components are used. Instead of settling for carpet, go with a hardwood floor to give your room a modern and sophisticated character.

Solid hardwood is considered the purest form of flooring available. Made fully from natural wood, solid hardwood flooring has no changes, with the exception of a finish for prefinished varieties. No matter if you opt for domestic hickory or an exotic species like Brazilian cherry, the full piece of wood comes directly from the tree.

Engineered hardwood flooring is descriptive of the process used for putting together a plank or strip. Although this type of flooring is made fully from hardwood, two different types of wood are used. On top is the natural hardwood, and below is birch; three to 16 is the ratio of natural hardwood to the birch. Although a hybrid type of hardwood, engineered is just as strong and sand-able as solid. Homes with a radiating heat source should go with engineered hardwood flooring, as the wood is less likely to warp over time than solid wood.

Although containing no natural wood, laminate is another option to get the look of hardwood flooring. A piece of laminate flooring is made from high-density fiberboard with a high-resolution photographic image of a hardwood species on top. Resin-coated cellulose or melamine is added on top of the image to give the laminate flooring a glossy appearance. Additionally, laminate flooring may also be manufactured to emulate the texture and sound of natural hardwood.

Tag :hardwood,hardwood flooring,cheap hardwood flooring

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Pre-Finished Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood flooring is gaining more popularity mainly because it is durable and easy to install. With basic carpentry skills, right knowledge on wood materials, and proper tools, the installation of hardwood flooring can be as easy as pie.

One of the main concerns of people regarding hardwood floors is the finishing. Many people know that in order to truly bring out the beauty of a hardwood floor, it needs to have a properly finish–a job that’s time consuming and not really easy to do. If you do not enjoy the prospect of sanding and varnishing the floor, you should opt for pre-finished hardwood flooring.

Pre-finished hardwood flooring, as the name implies, needs no more finishing touches before it can be installed. This means that installing pre-finished hardwood flooring can be a whole lot easier than before. Before you start hammering away at your floor, however, here are a few tips you should know:

1. Choose the right wood – some people think that any type of wood is ok, as long as it’s hardwood. You should realize, however, that the beauty of the pre-finished hardwood flooring depends on the type of wood used. Each type of wood has a distinctive pattern and coloring and you should really think about the pattern you want before deciding anything.

This is because some types of wood look better as pre-finished hardwood flooring for certain rooms in the house. This also depends on the color of the walls and other designs in the room.

Another reason why you should know the different types of wood is that there are those that are stronger than others. This means that you need to consider the purpose of the room and the environment which the room is located in selecting the type of pre-finished hardwood flooring to get.

3. Find the right tools – in order to properly install the pre-finished hardwood flooring, you will need the right tools. Here are some of them:

• staple gun

• hammer

• chalk line

• drill and bits

• pry bar

• saws (chop saw and table saw)

• wood putty

• tape measure

• earplugs, and

• safety goggles.

Of course, this list does not really give you all the needed tools for the installation of pre-finished hardwood flooring. If you have no idea what to use, it might be better to save yourself some cash and frustration and hire professionals to install the flooring for you.

Hardwood Flooring is one upgrade that can change your whole house, with hard wood floors prices being very different from one place to the other, you should educate yourself about the key things to look for when buying hardwood floors. Daniel Roshard writes home improvement tips and advice articles, read about Hardwood Floors and more home tips at http://hardwoodfloors.advice-tips.com

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Staining And Finishing Hardwood Flooring

Staining will help bring out your hardwood flooring's character and uniqueness. Before applying your stain you need to make sure your floor is completely free of dust, grit and other particles. Dust likes to hide deep in the wood grain, be sure to really get in there to get those dust monsters out. More tips for thorough cleaning can be found at http://www.layingwoodflooring.com.

Make sure the area you are working in is well ventilated. Inhaling fumes from the wood stain can cause you to pass out if you breathe them in for too long. Most stains are solvent based which makes them flammable. Do not smoke while you are applying the stain. If you are working near a pilot light take the precaution and extinguish it, it's better not to take the chance.

Wood floor stains are either oil based or water based. Oil based are most common and preferred because they are easy to use. Water based is a newer type which accounts for the difference in popularity. Always test your stain in a corner or, better yet, on a scrap piece of wood before applying it to the whole floor.

Make sure traffic is diverted from the area before beginning. No one should come near your floor while you are staining or waiting for it to dry. To apply the stain, work from the corners and rub the stain in using a rag. Go with the wood grain and wipe off any excess as you go along. Stain should not sit on the wood, it will raise the grain of the wood and show every imperfection when it dries.

It is a best practice to allow your floor to dry overnight before attempting to walk on it or apply any type of finish. Once you're sure your wood is completely dry you are ready to put on your wood flooring finish.

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Not All Hardwood Lumber Is Equally Good

So you want to build a hutch or put down wood flooring in the living room. The question is which hardwood lumber is the best for the job. The answer is not difficult if you learn a little about the characteristics of hardwoods and what gives them their unique qualities.

What is Hardwood Lumber?

Hardwood is defined as wood coming from broad leaf trees or those that produce nuts. It is the hickory, oak, Walnut, Maple, and cherry trees that are most popular in North America. This is because the climate is just right for large production of such species of trees. The lumber that is created from these strong trees is given the generic name of “hardwood.”

Not all hardwood is the same. Industry groups have made great strides in standardizing wood by strength and grade. This helps consumers know which are truly the hardest and which are right for specific woodworking jobs.

For example, the hardest of the hardwoods is hickory and Pecan. It is measured by how many pounds of pressure is needed to mar the wood. In the case of these two woods it is approximately 1,820 pounds of pressure before the wood is marred.

On the other end of the hardwood scale is Aspen. It is classified as a hardwood, but requires only 350 pounds of pressure to mar its surface. In between are hard maple at 1,450 pounds and white oak at 1,360 pounds. This give you a comparison of which woods are best for flooring (the harder woods) and which make better material for building furniture. Cherry is just about in the middle of the hardness scale at 950 pounds of pressure to mar.

How Hardwood Can Change

Hardwood contracts and expands depending on temperature and moisture. This is because it tries to adapt to its environment. It was once a living thing and continues to have a life of its own to some degree. In order to minimize the amount of change to wood it is kiln dried to remove much of the moisture and stabilize it. This helps keep the finished wood product truer to the size and shape of when it was manufactured.

Leading manufacturers of hardwood lumber take into account changes in wood and the purpose for which it will be used in designing the lumber. For example, the Windsor plywood is often used as sub-flooring and for exterior wall bases. Dunn, Carter, Lowes, and Siegel lumber all stock their lumber rack with rough cut lumber for any job. Online retailers such as Lumber Liquidators have a huge supply of hardwood lumber mostly for finished flooring applications.

Careful consideration needs to go into the right type of lumber for your hardwood project, but equally as important is the finished look. Many hardwoods vary only slightly in their strength and durability, but as a consumer, you need to decide to you like the grainy look of white oak or the smooth finish of maple. Any type of hardwood lumber can be stained and finished with several colour variations, so look more at grain than colour when choosing what wood looks best to you.

About the Author

Clinton Maxwell repeatedly writes summaries on themes relating to 84 lumber and carter lumber. His articles on hardwood lumber are published on http://www.insidewoodworking.com/lumber/hardwoodlumber.html .

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Bruce Hardwood Floors – How To Care For Them And Maintain Them

Bruce hardwood floors are among the best floors in the world and are available at flooring retailers all over the world. There is a difference in the quality of Bruce hardwood as good, better and best. This is simply the allowable character of the flooring. The good collection has the largest amount of character knots, mineral streaks and pinholes. Wood is a natural product so you will see differences in boards of every category, no matter quality of Bruce hardwood floors you have.

Whether you have Bruce hardwood floors or Bruce laminate flooring, you still have to give them the same amount of care. When you are washing Bruce wood floors, you can sweep or vacuum them. When washing them, make sure you use a damp mop and don’t use excessive amounts of water. The water could stain the Bruce hardwood and even with the durable laminate floors, using a lot of water could make the planks become uneven on the floor. Use a soft cloth to dry the floors and make sure that you do dry them thoroughly.

You cannot use scoring pads or abrasive cleaners on either Bruce hardwood floors or Bruce laminate flooring. This will mar the finish of the floor. The Bruce wood floors do have the coating needed to give the floors an exceptional shine, especially if you buy prefinished hardwood. If you use wax on these floors, instead of getting a better shine, you will mar the polyurethane coating. In the case of unfinished Bruce hardwood, once you have the floors installed then you do have to give them several coats of this protective coating, which dries to a gleaming shine.

Even with Bruce hardwood floors, you may notice dents occurring in the wood, especially in areas where you have heavy furniture. Even though hardwood does have a cell structure, like everything, if there is enough pressure, the hardwood will dent. Bruce wood floors also go through an aging process, which means the color will darken with age. If you have mats or rugs on the Bruce laminate flooring or the Bruce hardwood, you need to move it from time to time. Leaving the covering in place means that when you do move it, the area under the rug or mat will be lighter than the rest of the floor.

Simple everyday cleaning will keep your Bruce hardwood floors looking like new for a lifetime. If you accidentally spill something on the floors, you do have to wipe it up immediately. If you don’t, it will stain the floor and then you will have to find something to help you remove the stains from your Bruce hardwood floors. You don’t have to worry about this as much with Bruce laminate flooring, but if you have hardwood, you certainly do.

To find out more about Wood Flooring visit Peter's Website Wood Flooring Explained and find out about Bruce Hardwood Flooring and more, including Exotic Hardwood Floors, Wood Laminate Flooring and Refinishing Hardwood Floors

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Leigh